Dynamax
Dynamax (Japanese: ダイマックス Daimax) is a temporary transformation affecting Pokémon that was introduced in Generation VIII. Trainers who obtain a Dynamax Band are able to Dynamax their Pokémon. According to Professor Magnolia, the Pokémon distorts space to change its size while affecting the world around them. This transformation has another special variantion known as Gigantamax.
History
Dynamax was created from Eternatus when its energy leaked out of it while it slumbered to recover from its wounds. This resulted in the creation of several places called Power Spots, where Trainers can trigger the Dynamax transformation, which the Gym Stadiums are built over. Also the Power Spots were created in the Pokémon Dens scattered thought the Wild Area for the Max Raid Battle. Parts of Eternatus's body, known as Wishing Stars, rained across Galar, allowing whoever found them to Dynamax their Pokémon when at a Power Spot. Dynamax Bands were created to help anyone fully utilize the transformation anytime they when near Power Spots.
Effects
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Dynamaxing increases a Pokémon's size drastically, as well as changing the moves of the Pokémon and increasing their HP in battle (except for Shedinja), but can only be used once during a battle, and ends after three turns or if the user is switched out. In addition, it can only be performed in areas known to have power spots, such as Galar's Stadiums and Battle Tower. When Dynamaxed, all of the Pokémon's moves will turn into Max Moves that correspond to those moves' types and categories. Like with Mega Evolution, Dynamax is activated at the start of the turn before all other moves are executed.
Dynamaxing provides Pokémon with an increase to its maximum and current HP (with the exception of Shedinja) by the same factor. The amount of HP gained depends on the Pokemon's Dynamax Level, which can be increased with Dynamax Candy. At Dynamax Level 0, a Pokémon will gain 50% more HP. For every Dynamax Level above that, the Pokemon will gain 5% more HP, up to a 100% HP increase at Dynamax Level 10. All other stats, as well as its Ability and held item, remain the same.
Whenever a Pokémon enters into or reverts from Dynamax, its current HP is adjusted to retain the same percentage of HP remaining. For instance, if a Pokémon at Dynamax Level 10 has 100/200 HP remaining, then upon Dynamaxing, its HP will be adjusted to 200/400. Conversely, if the same Pokémon has 100/400 HP in Dynamax form, then its HP will be adjusted down to 50/200 when its Dynamax expires. All effects that is based on a percentage of the Dynamaxed Pokémon's maximum HP (e.g. Life Dew, Leech Seed, poisoning) is calculated based on its maximum non-Dynamax HP. If Endeavor or Pain Split is used against a Dynamax Pokémon, the damage it receives would only be based on its non-Dynamax HP. However, Brine's bonus damage is still calculated based on the Dynamax HP.
If a Pokémon has the Gigantamax Factor, it can undergo Gigantamax, a special kind of Dynamax that results in a different appearance to its regular form in addition to being larger. Only specific individual members of a select group of species can Gigantamax. Each Gigantamax Pokémon has an exclusive Max Move known as a G-Max Move. Other than having a G-Max Move, Gigantamax is functionally identical to a Dynamax.
Zacian, Zamazenta, and Eternatus cannot Dynamax.
Additionally, a Dynamax Pokémon is immune to:
- Flinching
- Fake Out can still damage a Dynamax Pokémon, but will have no secondary effect
- Moves affected by weight (e.g. Low Kick and Heavy Slam)
- Moves that remove Berries (e.g. Pluck, Bug Bite, Incinerate), Covet
- One-hit knockout moves
- Destiny Bond
- Moves that replace the target's Ability with the user's (e.g. Skill Swap and Entrainment)
- Other Ability-changing moves still work (e.g. Gastro Acid and Worry Seed)
- Moves that switch the target out (e.g. Roar and Whirlwind)
- But they can switch out through Emergency Exit or an Eject Button
- Circle Throw and Dragon Tail still do damage, but will not switch out a Dynamax Pokémon
- Red Card also fails against a Dynamax Pokémon, but is still consumed
- Disable and Cursed Body
- A Max Move can still be used if its base move was disabled prior to Dynamax
- Encore
- Instruct
Choice Band, Choice Scarf, Choice Specs, Gorilla Tactics, RKS System, and Sheer Force temporarily stop working (including the stat boosts) if the holder is Dynamaxed. However, Assault Vest still works accordingly and prevents the holder from using of Max Guard.
If a Dynamax Pokémon is unable to use any moves (e.g. running out of PP), it will use Struggle.
If Transform or Imposter is used against a Dynamax Pokémon, only its base form and base moves will be copied, and the user can Dynamax separately. The Gigantamax Factor, however, is not copied at all; instead, the user can only achieve the standard Dynamax form. Additionally, if a Pokémon incapable of Dynamax (e.g. Zacian) is copied, then the user will not be able to Dynamax afterwards. If a Pokémon attempts to copy a Max Move (e.g. using Copycat), it will copy the base move of that Max Move.
In a Max Raid Battle, the wild Pokémon is a Dynamax Pokémon for the entire duration of the battle. Only one of the Trainers' Pokémon can Dynamax during a Max Raid Battle for three turns. The first Trainer with the chance to Dynamax is the host, with the chance passing to the next player who joined until it returns to the first player.
In the anime
Dynamaxing was first featured in SS005, where Ash and Go witnessed a Snorlax Gigantamaxing in the Wild Area and had to figure out a way to stop an incoming train from colliding with it.
In the TCG
Dynamax is featured in the Pokémon Trading Card Game as 
. It was added as a new mechanic to the game in the Sword & Shield expansion (the Sword and Shield sets in Japan).
Released along with the first Pokémon V cards, Pokémon VMAX introduce the Dynamax and Gigantamax mechanics into the Trading Card Game. Pokémon VMAX evolve from its respective Pokémon V, giving them boosted Hit Points (so far, the biggest HPs in a Pokémon card) and more powerful attacks. When a VMAX Pokémon is knocked out, the opponent takes three Prize cards instead of one.
So far, all released VMAX Pokémon have one or two attacks and no abilities. While keeping the same layout of Pokémon V, VMAX Pokémon cards have a rainbow background and details on the card's bottom, as well its illustration also fading into the top-most area and having the visual aura of Dynamaxing/Gigantamaxing on the Pokémon.
| Related cards Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card | Type | English Expansion |
Rarity | # | Japanese Expansion |
Rarity | # |
| Pokémon
| |||||||
| Card | Type | English Expansion |
Rarity | # | Japanese Expansion |
Rarity | # |
| Cinderace
|
|
VMAX Rising | 
|
017/070 | |||
| Inteleon
|
|
VMAX Rising |
|
023/070 | |||
| Morpeko
|
|
Shield |
|
020/060 | |||
| Shield | 
|
069/060 | |||||
| Rillaboom
|
|
VMAX Rising |
|
009/070 | |||
| Stonjourner
|
|
Sword & Shield | 
|
116/202 | Sword |
|
035/060 |
| Sword |
|
070/060 | |||||
In other languages
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See also
| Pokémon transformations | ||
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This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |
